Peter Beardsley has heaped praise on his former England team-mate Gareth Southgate ahead the World Cup semi-final against Croatia.

The ex-Newcastle United star was part of the side that reached the last four 28 years ago and believes the Three Lions deserve to be in with a shout of reaching their first final since 1966.

Beardsley - speaking at a tribute match for his former team-mate Pavel Srnicek - believes Southgate is bringing out the best in the group of players he has and is watching on with interest as the country prepares to hit fever pitch for the semi-final encounter in Moscow.

Beardsley told the Chronicle: “Gareth is a top fella.

“I played with him for England between 1994 and 1996 when Terry Venables was the manager.

“He’s brilliant and he loves the game.

“Gareth was never as loud or vociferous as others in that group.

“In those days there was comedy, fun and humour in that group with Gazza a big part of that.

“Gareth wasn’t the dressing room joker.

“He joined in jokes but now we see him hugging the players and you can see he’s got a good group there.

“That can take you a long way.”

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England in the World Cup

Beardsley played alongside fellow Newcastle icons Paul Gascoigne and Chris Waddle in Italia 90 with the squad taken aback as thousands lined the street in the UK when they returned after a narrow miss against West Germany.

Former Liverpool and Everton man Beardsley reflected: “People are saying it’s like 1990 and I don’t dispute that.

“But at the time the players weren’t aware of what was going on back home.

“Nowadays with social media the way it is the players can see everybody celebrating back home which is amazing for them.

“Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland have done a great job with the team.

“People say the draw has ‘opened up’ but you still have to beat what’s in front of you and they have done that.